Alani contacted us at the beginning of November with a reset project in mind:

Hi Denise, Leslie, Brian and friends! Hope you are all well and nice and busy leading up to Christmas. I am currently researching the idea of resetting my engagement ring (1ct, in a simple solitaire setting) as I recently broke my wedding band and I'm not too sure if I want to stay with the traditional e ring / w band. I'm pretty hard on my rings and everything that I am drawn to with a lot of bling (pave, halos) isn’t really right for my lifestyle.  Anyway, I was thinking of resetting into a 3 stone, but then I'm not sure if that will be enough bling so I'm looking at a Graduated 5 stone using my current 1ct stone as the center.

Denise worked with Alani to come up with the best combination of diamond sizes to get the flowing, graduated look she was after and also worked on several different ideas for the setting. The final diamond specs were as follows:

• Center stone 1.05ct F SI1 is a GIA XXX round diamond.
• 2 x 0.423ct F SI1 Brian Gavin Signature Hearts and Arrows diamonds.
• 2  x 0.20ct F VS Brian Gavin Signature diamond melee.

Alani decided not to ship her center stone to us and searched to find a qualified local Australian jeweler to set it. We had all the measurements of the stone and were able to create the CAD with that information. We tweaked the center prongs to make sure that only the prongs showed from the top view, and that the trellis wires were not visible from the top. We sent the updated CAD, received approval and proceeded to caste the ring in platinum and then set the 4 side stones. We e-mailed Glamor Shots of the almost finished ring and then shipped it:

I picked up the package and the ring is beautiful! I can't wait until I get the center stone set…

A few days later we received this e-mail:

Hello Denise, Lesley, Brian and the team at BGD! I am please to let you know that the ring has been completed with the center stone being set today!! I am in love with the ring and it is exactly what I imagined it to be. It's amazing how you guys can take a drawing and bring it to life! The ring is just one ball of sparkle at the moment. It is really unbelievable! I find myself laughing every time I catch a glimpse of it because it is just so unreal. Thanks again, Alani.

Feast your eyes on the picture gallery below!!

© 2012, Brian Gavin. All rights reserved. Including all photographs, written word and video, but not limited to unless noted.

Brian Gavin recently launched the next generation of his popular Truth head with his beautiful “Truth” friction back stud earring settings. The settings are available in 18K White, 18K Yellow and 14K Rose Gold as well as in Platinum.**

Dear Lesley and Brian,

I got the earrings yesterday! They are so beautiful, I am extremely happy how they turn out. I absolutely adore the truth setting, it’s so delicate, unique and compliments the stones beauty. My worries regarding the clarity are blown away as I truly can’t see the difference to my IF ering. I might try and get the loupe though, as I am very curious to see those "birthmarks of the stones".

It was a pleasure to work with you, Lesley. I definitely have never experienced that great customer service here in Germany. Talking to Brian was a highlight in my diamond education, I felt I could trust his opinion and experience. Please, let him know that I am a very happy customer, he mentioned on the phone that that is very important for him to know:)

With many thanks and best wishes from Berlin, Ekaterina F

**The Truth Settings are eligible for our Diamond Stud Earring Sale which ends on February 10, 2012. Get $175 off the earring setting of your choice when you purchase  a pair of Brian Gavin Signature diamonds. No other discounts or offers apply.

© 2012, Brian Gavin. All rights reserved. Including all photographs, written word and video, but not limited to unless noted.

Ian contacted us by e-mail in mid November interested in having us create a custom setting for him. He was away from home when he wrote in and described it verbally: I wanted to see if you could line up 2 hearts that would twist head to head. Within each heart the .25 carat diamond would sit and right in the middle where the hearts meet, the larger diamond would sit. Also I would like to put some small diamonds into the band.

When he got back to his PC he sent us a rough free-hand sketch of what he had in mind. Jamie discussed the details with Brian Gavin and then e-mailed Ian a quote. He approved the quote and then Jamie worked with him to select a beautiful one carat K VS2 Brian Gavin Signature “Blue”.

We e-mailed him the first rendition of the CAD and he requested that the head be integrated into the shank. We fine tuned it and sent him the second and final rendition which he approved. We cast, set the and shipped his beautiful ring. He e-mailed us, thrilled with the result:

Jamie! This is even better than I thought it was going to be! I can't express how great of job you and everyone else did on my journey to get this ring made. Thanks for all your hard work. You guys truly have a gift of not only designing but bringing stories of love to life! Although it was a lengthy process it was very much worth it. Please express my gratitude to everyone else who played an important role in this wonderful ring. I look forward to working with you in the future and I know alot of people will also too! If I have any more questions I will contact you. Thanks a bunch again! I'll keep you posted. Take care! Ian

Customer's sketch, CADs and Glamor Shots:

© 2012, Brian Gavin. All rights reserved. Including all photographs, written word and video, but not limited to unless noted.

VIDEO

A Gallery of Some of Brian Gavin's Jewelry Highlights…

© 2012, Brian Gavin. All rights reserved. Including all photographs, written word and video, but not limited to unless noted.

We met Brian and Lesley in 2009 and they created what can only be described as a “dream pair” of matching engagement and wedding bands – http://bit.ly/ydfDTp . Stephanie is originally from Texas and so when it came time this year to counter-balance those with a little “fun” stone that is the official gemstone of Texas, well, we knew there was only one couple that we could fully entrust with the job. I can only say that Brian and Lesley not only came up with an amazing looking ring but also one that it is also eminently comfortable and wearable on a daily basis just like their original engagement and wedding band duet. The only remaining question is what color gemstone is next? Ian

At the beginning of October Ian contacted us about creating a unique setting for a topaz he was considering purchasing. He had visited John Dyer’s website and was fascinated by the magnificent colored stones he had been cutting. He specifically wanted the topaz to be a deep “windex” blue. The first stone he liked was sold but he managed to secure a magnificent 22.01 carat cushion cut blue topaz.

Pretty basic ring design. Could be "no stones" modern and a little clunky to some nice side stones

We got to work on several sketches and e-mailed him out 4 different options (see below in gallery). He selected design #2. We then created the ring on CAD, e-mailed it to him for review and then cast the ring in platinum.  Ian had said that he would need it no later than February 8, but we wanted to make sure he had it in time for New Years Eve. The ring took many hours to clean and prepare for setting and we thankfully managed to ship it out on Friday evening – our last shipment of the year.

She loves the ring, fits perfectly! The pics were spectacular but also showed just how much work goes into these and that they don’t pop out completely done. Nice to get an appreciation for all of the craftsmanship. Happy Holidays! Ian

The process and magnificent Glamor Shots are chronicled below:

© 2012, Brian Gavin. All rights reserved. Including all photographs, written word and video, but not limited to unless noted.

© 2011, Brian Gavin. All rights reserved. Including all photographs, written word and video, but not limited to unless noted.

The rings look awesome and I have already received many compliments at work. They are a lot heavier than I thought they would be. They look so delicate but the platinum makes them feel strong. Really really  really impressed with the crazy detail on the engagement ring.

I think I have some serious issues but the one thing that I loved the most is the Brian Gavin fridge magnet. Don't ask me why. Maybe it's because it's the one thing I get to keep for myself. I don't know.

I asked my girlfriend today if she wants to see a video demo and when she said yes I sent her a video where I opened up the box and using the provided gloves I took out a paper ring we put in there instead of the real thing. She wasn't impressed. You can see it here (as well as my love for the magnet)

Thank you very much for all of your help Denise. You and Brian have made it pretty painless. The service was excellent and I'm very glad I made the choice to work with you guys to create these rings. I'll send you pics of the ring on her finger once it's on there. It will hopefully be very soon. Stay tuned. Mike

We will feature the ring pictures and proposal as soon as Mike has proposed. Stay tuned!!!

© 2011, Brian Gavin. All rights reserved. Including all photographs, written word and video, but not limited to unless noted.

Gwyneth contacted us at the end of August after she had seen her aunt’s beautiful 5 stone trellis band.

 “Hi Lesley!!! I recently visited with my dear Aunt Lynn and saw her new Brian Gavin 5 stone .33 diamond ring w/trellis setting and WOW!  Any chance of getting a quote of the SAME ring but in size 8.5? Platinum setting – same type of stones??

 Denise worked with her to select 5 magnificent 0.40 – 0.44 ct Brian Gavin Signature Hearts and Arrows diamonds to set into the Platinum 5 Stone Trellis II setting.

 I'm going on to a conference Sept. 21 – it would be cool to make my friends swoon! But if that's not doable – don't wanna rush ya! I can create jealousy at another venue!

 We shipped the ring in time and received the following e-mail a few days ago:

Denise, Sorry haven't written sooner but my ability to compose a coherent sentence has been hampered by the distraction this ring is making in my life! Even now I glance down at its sparkly goodness and stop typing amazed at the fire, the sparkle, the evident hearts & arrows of these brilliantly cut rocks sitting pretty on my hand! I could not be more pleased by a ring…it's everything I dreamed of and more! Here's a pic on my hand! Thank you again for such an easy and lovely buying experience for a lifetime of sparkly blingtastic fun! You're a doll! ~Gwyneth

© 2011, Brian Gavin. All rights reserved. Including all photographs, written word and video, but not limited to unless noted.

Ben contacted us via e-mail at the beginning of July looking for a 0.75ct Brian Gavin Signature Hearts and Arrows diamond and a custom setting too. He had about a month before he was moving from California to Massachusetts and wanted to propose before he left.

Denise helped him to select a beautiful Brian Gavin Signature H & A diamond. He e-mailed inspiration pictures of the style he wanted us to create for him. It was a platinum custom solitaire with Brian Gavin Signature diamond melee accents and our popular Novela Head, with a pink diamond set inside the shank right under the head.  We e-mailed him the CAD rendering for approval and then proceeded to cast and finish up the ring.

Ben proposed and Gabi was thrilled with it. They sent the ring back for a complimentary resize and then we received this lovely e-mail along with the pictures below:

I remember we said we'd email you pictures of the proposal for your blog. On our first date, we went to take pictures in San Francisco since he is into photography and I had just gotten a camera. The last place we went to shoot that day was to a beach near the Golden Gate Bridge. I attached the picture of the first date (a silly picture and blurry because we didn't quite get the correct lighting that night) and the one where he proposed. I also attached a more normal one of us and a photo of the ring! Thank you for all your help. I'm so happy that Ben chose to order the ring from Brian Gavin… it's perfect! Gabi

© 2011, Brian Gavin. All rights reserved. Including all photographs, written word and video, but not limited to unless noted.

Altan contacted us at the beginning of July via Live Chat. He was interested in discussing the creation of a diamond pendant for his wife using one of our beautiful new Brian Gavin Signature Quadex diamonds. Jamie worked with him to select a beautiful 0.98 carat Quadex which we set into a Platinum 4 Prong Basket Pendant with an attached 16" cable chain. We received the beautiful pictures below and thought our readers would appreciate seeing our new Brian Gavin Signature Quadex in action!! Enjoy!

© 2011, Brian Gavin. All rights reserved. Including all photographs, written word and video, but not limited to unless noted.